Scottish Executive

Access for Disabled People

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in relation to the provision of toilet facilities for disabled people at sports stadiums.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that there are adequate toilet facilities for disabled people at sports stadiums.

Dr Elaine Murray: The statutory framework is set mainly by the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 and Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, but these do not confer specific powers on ministers, relating to the provision of toilet facilities for disabled people at sports stadiums.

  Part III of the 1995 act was introduced to improve access for disabled people to goods, services and facilities. From October 2004, service providers to the public will have to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of their premises, to overcome physical barriers to access, if access is impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people. The Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds, the fourth edition of which was published by the then Scottish Office and the then Department of National Heritage in 1997, contains a chapter on spectator accommodation for people with disabilities. That chapter refers to the 1995 Act and relevant Building Regulations and the requirement on managers to comply with them. The Disability Rights Commission is the body through which people’s complaints of non-compliance with the 1995 act can be addressed.

Access for Disabled People

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the adequacy of provision of facilities for disabled spectators at sports stadiums.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive has no responsibility for monitoring the adequacy of provision of facilities for disabled spectators at sports grounds. I also refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23051 today.

Air Services

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21886 by Lewis Macdonald on 29 January 2002, whether the Scottish Air Transport Consultation document will (a) assess the value of Public Service Obligations already operating on some air services and (b) consider any constraints imposed by high air fares on island and rural areas such as the Highlands and Islands.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Air Transport Consultation Document will address a wide variety of issues relating to air transport in the Highlands and Islands. This will include the role of Public Service Obligations and the cost of air travel. The consultation process provides an opportunity for anyone with an interest in those topics to offer views.

Alcohol and Drug Misuse

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio is of men to women currently referred to the Counselling and Support Service for Alcohol and Drugs.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Sixty-nine per cent of those referred to the Counselling and Support Service for Alcohol and Drugs in Forth Valley in the last 12 months were male and 31% were female.

Architecture

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that qualified architects in Scotland receive formal and mandatory training and continuing professional development training in meeting the needs of disabled people through the social model of disability and what representations it has made, and to whom, on this matter.

Mike Watson: The regulation of the profession of architect is a reserved matter and the Executive has no jurisdiction over accreditation of courses or the continuing professional development of architects. These matters are the joint responsibility of the Architects Registration Board and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Audit Scotland

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what audit fees each local authority has been charged by Audit Scotland in each year since 1996-97.

Peter Peacock: This is a matter for Audit Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally.

Audit Scotland

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Audit Scotland is required to comply with the principles of Best Value.

Mr Andy Kerr: The duty of Best Value will be extended across the public sector by spring 2002, including Audit Scotland.

Central Heating

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied under its Central Heating Installation Programme as to the (a) maximum and (b) minimum number of radiators that can be installed in a house or a flat; what constraints or prohibitions there are as to the rooms in which the radiators can be installed, and whether the same constraints apply uniformly throughout Scotland.

Iain Gray: The rules for the installation of a central heating system under the Central Heating Installation Programme, are the same throughout Scotland. Landlords in the social rented sector apply similar arrangements. A central heating system is installed to provide heat to the main living areas of the dwelling, such as the living room, the hall, the bathroom and the main bedroom or bedrooms, depending on the size of the household. If a householder lives in a larger property and wishes to extend the system to other parts of the house, they can pay to have the additional work carried out, subject to the agreement of Eaga Partnership and the installer.

Childcare

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides any financial or other support to the Scottish Childminding Association.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) is receiving core funding from the Scottish Executive, this year and for the next three years, to assist in the delivery of the Childcare Strategy to provide accessible affordable quality children’s services. The SCMA is also receiving funding for training, IT development and a project to promote understanding of the new system for registration and inspection. This funding totals £134,407 in 2001-02.

Childcare

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice, guidance or guidelines it provides to childminders.

Cathy Jamieson: Under the Children Act 1989, local authorities are responsible for the regulation of childminders and it is for them to offer any advice to providers. Guidance for local authorities on the regulation and review of childminding was issued by the Scottish Office in 1991.

Childcare

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which bodies regulate or vet the procedures of childminders.

Cathy Jamieson: Childminders are currently regulated by local authorities under the Children Act 1989. As from 1 April 2002, the new Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care will assume responsibility for the regulation and inspection of childminders under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.

Childcare

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it requires childminders to have documented policies on (a) equal opportunities, (b) admissions procedures, (c) complaints procedures, (d) access to any records kept and (e) confidentiality.

Cathy Jamieson: The Children Act 1989 requires local authorities to impose a duty on childminders to keep records about the children in their care. It is currently for the local authority to decide on the need for any further documentation. The new Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care will assume this responsibility from 1 April 2002, and will apply the care standards which will be launched on 11 March. These will require childminders to ensure that records, plans and policies are properly made and kept in accordance with national and local guidance.

Council Tax

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the number of council tax bands.

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to undertake a revaluation of properties with a view to reassessing council tax bands.

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the discretionary powers available to councils in respect of council tax discounts for holiday homes.

Peter Peacock: This matter falls within the remit of the current inquiry by the Local Government Committee into local government finance. We will give careful consideration to any recommendation the committee makes about it.

Crown Estates

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government about the site lease rental charge levied by Crown Estate Commissioners on Scottish salmon farmers in the current financial year.

Allan Wilson: No such representations have been made.

Development

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement and assistance it has given, or plans to give, to small towns who have established or plan to establish development trusts.

Iain Gray: To date, the Scottish Executive has not provided direct or explicit encouragement or assistance to small towns wishing to establish a development trust. However, initiatives such as Working for Communities have focused on exploring new ways to organise and deliver services. Early findings from a number of the Working for Communities pathfinders, are relevant to the role of community led organisations in service delivery, at both a strategic and operational level.

  Communities Scotland has a remit to improve the delivery of community regeneration and promote community empowerment, and part of this will be developing and testing new ways to deliver regeneration and ways to increase community participation in, and ownership of the regeneration process. Development Trusts are one vehicle for progressing this. Communities Scotland are aware of the work of Development Trusts in England and are taking an interest in the recently commissioned study into the potential for, and support needs of Development Trusts in Scotland.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in order to reduce dietary levels of fat and sugar with a view to reducing the prevalence of diabetes.

Malcolm Chisholm: We expect NHS boards to implement the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network guideline on the management of diabetes, which includes an emphasis on the fundamental importance of healthy eating as part of diabetes health care behaviour.

  Much of type 2 diabetes, which accounts for about 85% of the prevalence of the condition, is a consequence of overweight and obesity. If overweight people lose weight, they reduce their risk of developing diabetes. Our Scottish Diet Action Plan, Eating for Health, promotes the provision of healthy food choices and health education in order to encourage individuals to choose a balanced diet. Physical exercise is also important.

Digital Hearing Aids

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking in order to ensure that digital hearing aids are supplied to patients for whom clinical judgement indicates a benefit from such hearing aids that would not be provided by other types of hearing aid and what percentage of such patients have been supplied with a digital hearing aid.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22823 on 21 February 2002, which gives details of the Good Practice Guidance issued last March.

  Information on the numbers of patients who have been clinically assessed as requiring a digital aid is not held centrally, neither are details on what percentage of these patients have been supplied with a digital aid.

Digital Technology

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4594 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 February 2002, whether it will detail any specific quantitative assessments which have been commissioned or completed of any impact on the economy in rural areas of the introduction of broadband services in the south of Scotland and the Highlands and Islands and whether it will publish any such assessments.

Mr Andy Kerr: Specific quantitative assessments of the impact on the economy in the Pathfinder areas have not been commissioned. Such assessments are not straightforward as indicated in UK Online: the broadband future , a report to the Prime Minister published in February 2001. The report noted that quantifying the benefits of broadband "is not feasible at present, but evidence from the US and advice from UK industry suggests that it is likely that they will be a significant factor in determining national competitiveness over the coming years".

  Pathfinder areas were selected on the basis that the market is unlikely to meet anticipated demand under current conditions, including procurement practices.

Drug Misuse

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the sum allocated to each local authority to deal with drug misuse in each of the past three years was spent.

Dr Richard Simpson: Local authorities are required to assess the care needs of those who misuse drugs in partnership with other local care providers and local drug action teams. Services are funded from general Grant Aided Expenditure. Much of this work is undertaken within generic services and we do not hold the information centrally that allows us to quantify spend in this area over the past three years.

Drug Misuse

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to each local authority to deal with drug misuse in each of the last three years.

Dr Richard Simpson: Local authorities do not receive from the Executive an earmarked allocation for dealing with drug misuse. In February 2001, however, the Executive sent out information to drug action teams (DATs) and other local agencies detailing how the £100 million package of new expenditure on tackling drug misuse would be distributed over the three years from 2001-02. Incorporated in the information pack was a breakdown, by DAT area, of the distribution of the new resources over the three year period, including details of allocations to local authorities. The complete package is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre and on the Drug Misuse in Scotland website www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org .

  In the current financial year, the Executive earmarked an additional £6.8 million within local authorities' Grant Aided Expenditure line for the rehabilitation of drug misusers. We also made available to local authorities in 2001-02 additional resources of £4 million for drug projects under the Changing Children's Services Fund and £2.5 million for diversion from prosecution/community disposal schemes.

  DATs are being asked to account for the spend of these additional resources and other direct spend on tackling drug misuse as part of their annual corporate planning arrangements. Information on expenditure is not yet available for 2001-02.

Eating Disorders

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with eating disorders have been referred to consultant psychiatrists by their general practitioner in the last 12 months.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

Eating Disorders

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to promote cognitive behavioural therapy as a treatment for people with eating disorders.

Malcolm Chisholm: The promotion of individual care therapies and treatments are a matter for clinicians in consultation with the relevant professional staff/multi-disciplinary team. Decisions in each case should always be based on individually assessed needs.

Eating Disorders

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is available to general practitioners to assist them in recognising the symptoms of (a) anorexia nervosa and (b) bulimia.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Department issued HDL(2001)75 on 9 October 2001, to provide guidance on eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia, as part of the Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland. This guidance is available on the SHOW website.

Eating Disorders

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients diagnosed with eating disorders are currently waiting to receive specialist treatment.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

Eating Disorders

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff with specialist training in the treatment and care of people with eating disorders are currently employed by the NHS in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS trusts are responsible for recruiting the staff, specialist and otherwise required for the effective delivery of service outcomes. Information on the staffing levels for individual departments is not held centrally but is held by local NHS trusts. Contact details for NHS trusts are available on www.show.scot.nhs.uk .

Eating Disorders

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is made available to education authorities and further and higher education institutions to assist in the identification of eating disorders in girls and women in the (a) 11-15 and (b) 16-24 age groups.

Malcolm Chisholm: Our published guidance calls for agencies to work together to access accurate information to better inform parents, education, health and social work professionals and others in the identification of the early and other signs of eating disorders.

  For schools, the advice contained in National Guidance 5-14 Health Education already includes strands on physical, emotional, and social health. These in turn link to suggested discussion areas for pupils on body image, peer and media influences and how this can impact on lifestyle choices.

  For those in higher education the institutions already provide a range of welfare, personal counselling and advisory services to students on a range of life issues and in some cases specific reference is already made to eating disorders.

Eating Disorders

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to NHS boards to support the development of self help support groups and voluntary sector organisations specialising in the care of people with eating disorders.

Malcolm Chisholm: The published guidelines, Patient Focus Public Involvement , set out detailed proposals on building capacity and communications, patient information and meaningful involvement. It shows how NHSScotland will better link, listen and support individuals and groups. The development of eating disorder care, support and advocacy groups will benefit with all other interests in terms of the steps set out and the ambition shown in the published guidance.

Education

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what ring-fenced funding for education was allocated to each local authority in each of the past three financial years.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested   is given in the tables contained within Ring-fenced Education Funding for Local Authorities (1998-99 to 2000-01) . A copy is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19591).

Education

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring is conducted of the spending of funds allocated for the support of pupils with behavioural difficulties and whether it will list any local authorities who have either wrongly allocated all or part of these funds to capital expenditure projects which were planned before the funds were made available or have been prevented from allocating funds to such projects.

Cathy Jamieson: Funds allocated by the Scottish Executive under specific grants to local authorities, which would include amounts allocated for the provision of support directed towards pupils with behavioural difficulties, carry certain conditions which are specified at the initial stages of allocation. These conditions must be complied with, otherwise the Executive may require repayment of the full allocation or part thereof. Local authorities are required to inform the Executive how the funds have been spent and must complete a certificate of expenditure for auditing purposes.

Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what role Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education has had in the development of the Electronic Communities for Headteachers project.

Cathy Jamieson: The development of the Electronic Communities for Headteachers project is still at a very early stage. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education has not been involved in devising the specification for this project.

Education

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the next Conference of the Commonwealth Education Ministers will be held in Edinburgh in 2003.

Mr Jack McConnell: I am delighted to confirm that the 15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers will be held in Edinburgh in the late autumn of 2003.

  This will be a major international conference bringing together Education Ministers from the 54 states of the Commonwealth, which together represent some 30% of the world's population. It is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase Scotland's world class education system as well as to engage in dialogue with our international partners, with many of whom we have important historic and cultural links. We will be able to share and learn from educational experience with others from across the globe and to consider how to tackle the challenges common to all of us in seeking to give every child and young person the best start in life.

  All four nations of the UK will of course be fully involved in the CCEM, and ministers and officials are in touch to ensure the smooth co-ordination of preparations for this important event.

Environment

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12675 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 5 February 2001 and in light of the recent report by Casella Stanger confirming the existence of the low frequency noise known locally as the "Largs Hum", whether it will review its decision not to intervene in this matter and whether it will now arrange for a full and independent inquiry to be carried out in order to determine the source of the noise.

Allan Wilson: The question is based on a false premise. The Low Frequency Noise Report, undertaken by Casella Stanger for the Scottish Executive in partnership with DEFRA and the other Devolved Administrations, neither addresses nor confirms the existence of the so-called "Largs Hum". Rather, it sets out general guidance for those dealing with and investigating complaints about low frequency noise.

  The use of the term "Largs Hum" implies that the issue is one of general concern to residents of Largs, however, North Ayrshire Council is aware of only three cases from Largs’ residents about low frequency noise in the last two years. In one case, the complainant advised the council the noise had stopped, in another a potential acoustic source was identified. In the one other case – behind the present interest in the "Largs Hum" - despite extensive investigations, there has not been clear instrumental evidence showing the existence of a problem. As the answers to previous questions (S1W-12675 on 5 February 2001, 13098 on 9 March 2001 and 14341 on 9 April 2001) on this matter have made clear, the Executive is satisfied that North Ayrshire Council has acted fully and correctly in this matter. North Ayrshire Council officials involved in the case have indicated that they have read, and welcome, the procedures suggested in the Low Frequency Noise Report. They have also stated that they believe their actions met and exceeded the recommendations made therein. In addition, after having made wide-ranging enquiries of various expert bodies, the Executive is satisfied that, insofar as a judgement can be made, there is no identifiable acoustic source in this case.

  In the absence of any significant corroboration and after making enquiries of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scottish Power and The Royal Navy and in the light of the proper actions of North Ayrshire Council, the Executive considers it inappropriate to fund the further full independent inquiry sought.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many changes to EU fishing regulations which apply in Scottish waters and which created new criminal offences, were made in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

Ross Finnie: European regulations do not create criminal offences. There are therefore no changes to EU fisheries regulations of the kind suggested in the question.

  Associated criminal offences are set out in domestic UK and Scottish legislation. There are essentially three sources of criminal offences in fisheries: section 30 of the Fisheries Act 1981; breaching a licence condition, and via Statutory Instrument.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to discussions between it and representatives of the fishing industry on the EU technical conservation regulations under the cod recovery plan before the issuing of guidance on the regulations to fishing licence holders in November 2001, whether there was any disagreement between it and representatives of the industry and to what issues any such disagreement related.

Ross Finnie: The new EU technical conservation regulation under the cod recovery plan was published on 19 October 2001. On 19 November, the Executive sent a draft guidance note to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) for comments. On 21 November, the SFF offered comments by telephone. The Executive then issued the guidance to all fishing vessel licence holders in Scotland on 23 November 2001.

  No disagreements of a substantive nature were highlighted at this time by fishing industry representatives.

Fuel Poverty

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21962 by Iain Gray on 30 January 2002, when it will publish its fuel poverty statement.

Iain Gray: A consultative draft of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement has been published today, 11 March 2002. I am placing copies in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19805). We are seeking comments on the consultative draft by 31 May 2002, prior to issuing a final version of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement later this year.

Further Education

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it has had with further education establishments over the new measures of student activity on which the Scottish Further Education Funding Council's (SFEFC) funding formula will be based and which were announced by the SFEFC on 8 February 2002.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council, which is responsible for these matters, developed the new approach to measuring student activity.

Further Education

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what models were set up to estimate the impact on further education establishments of the new measures of student activity on which the Scottish Further Education Funding Council's (SFEFC) funding formula will be based and which were announced by the SFEFC on 8 February 2002.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Given the large number of matters under consideration and potential outcome permutations, it was not practical for SFEFC to estimate the impact of everything being consulted on.

  The council has indicated that it now proposes to work closely with colleges in preparing an implementation plan, if necessary making adjustments to aspects of these proposals; and that it will not expect any college to have to manage a significant funding change in just one year.

Further Education

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated impact is on the budget of each further education college of the new measures of student activity announced by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council on 8 February 2002.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The estimated impact on each college will not be known until the council has developed a detailed implementation plan. The council has indicated that there will be no consequential changes to funding until academic year 2003-04 at the earliest.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22285 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether it will provide a full explanation of why neither it nor the Higher Education Statistics Agency collects information on the number of staff required to take compulsory retirement.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Decisions on the data it collects are a matter for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) which is funded directly by higher education institutions across the UK to cover a wide range of statistical data for institutions. The Executive has no plans to duplicate that function.

  As indicated in my reply to question S1W-22285 on 7 February 2002, officials from the department would be happy to meet with you to discuss data collection and the information that is available.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22286 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002 and the statement that "the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects information on when staff leave institutions, at what age and in many cases which institutions they have come from or gone to", why the information requested on the number of staff at higher education establishments who took early retirement and did not have their contracts renewed was not provided and when HESA will provide this information.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The information requested was not provided as the Executive does not collect it, and neither is it available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  Decisions on the data it collects are a matter for the HESA which is funded directly by higher education institutions across the UK to cover a wide range of statistical data for institutions. The Executive has no plans to duplicate that function.

  As indicated in my replies to various questions on data available, officials from the department would be happy to meet with you to discuss data collection and the information that is available.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22288 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether it will provide a full explanation of why the Higher Education Statistics Agency does not collect information on full-time and part-time academic staff in universities who hold a recognised qualification for teaching in any education establishment and why there is no recognised standard teaching qualification for academic staff in higher education establishments.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Decisions on appropriate levels of qualifications for staff undertaking teaching duties in higher education institutions are a matter for the individual institutions concerned.

  Institutions have supported the formation of the Institute for Learning and Teaching (ILT) in Higher Education to support excellence in learning and teaching. The ILT is a professional body for academic staff which aims to develop and maintain professional standards of practice and become the main source of professional recognition for all staff engaged in teaching and the support of learning. More information on ILT can be found at: www.ilt.ac.uk

  Decisions on the data it collects are a matter for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). It is possible that membership of the ILT could be included as a field in the HESA collection in the future.

  As indicated in my reply to S1W-22288, officials from the department would be happy to meet with you to discuss data collection and the information that is available.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22267 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether, under section 21 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992, it would be reasonable for it to direct further education establishments to ensure that all grievance and appeal procedures are fully compliant with the European Convention of Human Rights, detailing the reasons behind its position on this matter.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22267 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether, under section 21 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992, it can direct further education establishments to ensure that all grievance and appeal procedures are fully compliant with the European Convention of Human Rights, detailing the reasons for the position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: No. As autonomous bodies, further education colleges are responsible for deciding what action is necessary to ensure compliance with all relevant legal requirements. The power of direction is to be exercised only in accordance with the discharge of their statutory functions.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22267 by Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether any directions it makes to college boards of management under section 21 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 must be complied with.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Section 21 (1) of the 1992 act states that, "it shall be the duty of a board of management to whom any such directions are given to comply with the directions".

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22267 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, why it does not have the same powers to direct higher education establishments as it does under section 21 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 to direct further education establishments and whether it has any plans to address this position, detailing the reasons behind its position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There is no such power under the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992.

  The Executive is currently conducting a review of higher education, during which individuals and organisations are at liberty to propose changes to these arrangements.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22268 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether it has undertaken any assessment of the potential for it to be held legally or financially liable for any malpractice resulting from grievance and appeal procedures at further and higher education establishments, detailing the reasons behind its position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has considered the matter and is of the view that, given the terms of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992, liability for any malpractice resulting from grievance and appeal procedures would lie with the establishment in question.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22269 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, what duties of care it has, outwith the duties of care which further and higher education establishments have, in regard to the attendance of students at further and higher education establishments.

Ms Wendy Alexander: It is for the courts to determine in what circumstances a duty of care is owed to a particular individual.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22272 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, why the Scottish Funding Councils for Further and Higher Education alone have responsibility for holding information centrally on student complaints, grievances and academic appeals at further and higher education establishments; what plans it has to hold such information itself and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The funding councils are not obliged to hold information centrally on student complaints, grievances and academic appeals. The Executive has no plans to hold such information centrally.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information on further and higher educational establishments it holds centrally, detailing the reasons for the position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive has access to a wide range of information on further and higher educational establishments, including some collected directly for specific purposes, such as data collected by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

  The Executive collects such data as it requires, and which cannot be obtained from other bodies, such as the Scottish Funding Councils and the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  As indicated in previous replies, officials from the department would be happy to meet with you to discuss data collection and the information that is available.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22280 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, what the specific concerns were over the reliability of the source data which caused the suspension of the publication of information regarding college student completion rates; when it became aware of these concerns; on what date the suspension took effect, and on what date the new system will become operational.

Ms Wendy Alexander: In early 2000, the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC) considered that the information systems then in place did not provide the complexity of data required to produce robust and publishable completion rates.

  A footnote intimating the suspension of the data appeared in the Scottish ministers' Annual Report, Further Education in Scotland 1999, which was published on 25 October 2000; as follows:

  Student Programme Achievement Ratio, Student Achievement Ratio by Unit of Learning and Post Course Success Ratio.

  Performance Indicators have not been included in the 1999 Further Education Annual Report as the data used is not adequately robust. The Scottish Further Education Funding Council is currently reviewing performance indicators which will assist future decisions of the council and inform ministers.

  SFEFC plans to consult this year on a framework of new performance indicators for the further education sector, which it would intend to introduce next year.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22280 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, what action it took to ensure that the Parliament was aware of the position in regard to the suspension of the collection of college student completion rates; whether all relevant correspondence in relation to this matter was placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and, if so, on what date it was so placed, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Parliament was made aware of the position in the Scottish Ministers' Annual Report, Further Education in Scotland 1999 , which was laid before Parliament on 25 October 2000.

  The report contained the following footnote:

  Student Programme Achievement Ratio, Student Achievement Ratio by Unit of Learning and Post Course Success Ratio.

  Performance Indicators have not been included in the 1999 Further Education Annual Report as the data used is not adequately robust. The Scottish Further Education Funding Council is currently reviewing performance indicators which will assist future decisions of the council and inform ministers.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22280 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, what specific new performance indicators are being developed by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council; what instructions or guidance it has provided to the council on these proposed indicators; whether it will place any such instructions or guidance in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and, if so, on what date they will be so placed, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Policy guidance letters of 7 and 8 February 2001 and 17 December 2001 to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC), made various references to performance indicators. Each letter was placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre at the time.

  SFEFC has not yet completed work on the development of a framework of new performance indicators.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22273 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, what proposals it has to address the position whereby the Scottish Further and Higher Education Councils alone are responsible for the distribution of funds for welfare services, detailing the reasons for its position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The answer given to question S1W-22273 did not ascribe sole responsibility for the distribution of funds for student welfare services to the funding councils. I refer the member to that answer and to the answer given to question S1W-21385 on 18 January 2002.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22276 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, how its policies on access for all and lifelong learning are developed in the absence of the information being collated by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council on the number of students from state schools who enter universities and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21387 on 18 January 2002.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22275 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, why no advice or instruction has been provided to the Scottish Higher and Further Education Funding Councils regarding the funding of student welfare services.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22275 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether it has any concerns regarding the provision of student welfare provision at higher and further education establishments, detailing the reasons for its position on this matter.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22274 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, whether it will provide a full explanation of why it will not hypothecate monies for student welfare purposes as requested.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-21385 on 18 January 2002..

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22282 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, why it considers that it would serve no useful purpose to maintain details of which college and university lecture halls have loop systems and why there are no plans to do so.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive does not require detailed information on which institutions’ lecture halls have loop systems. The provision of such auxiliary aids and services is a matter for individual institutions in response to local demand.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Registrar General for Scotland plans to publish information from the April 2001 census in respect of the number of Gaelic speakers.

Mr Jim Wallace: The main results from the 2001 Census are due to be published by March 2003. This will include the number of Gaelic speakers.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its current estimate is of the number of speakers of Scottish Gaelic and what projections it has made in respect of this matter for the next 10 years.

Mike Watson: We have made no estimate or projection beyond the result of the 1991 Census that 69,510 people could speak, read or write Gaelic. The results of the 2001 Census are expected by March 2003.

General Practitioners

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether information has been produced regarding the most common reasons which people give for visiting a general practitioner.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information, derived from Continuous Morbidity Recording system, about the 10 most common reasons why people consulted their general practitioner (GP) in the year ending December 2000 can be found at the following web page:

  ISD Online - Primary Care - 10 most common reasons for consulting a GP in 2000 http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/primary_care/gmp/pcare_gmp_gp_20003.htm.

  Further information on patients use of GP services is shown in the report Scotland's People, Results from the 1999-2000 Scottish Household Survey (Volume 3 Annual Report). This can be found at the following web page:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00115/00115c-01.asp

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to the mandatory use by NHS boards of new drugs and devices in circumstances where patients are clinically suitable and for which guidelines have been approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Health Technology Board for Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards should take account of advice and evidence from the Health Technology Board for Scotland and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need. Likewise, individual clinicians should take account of evidence-based guidance, when exercising their clinical judgement.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21522 by Malcolm Chisholm on 21 January 2002, whether it will undertake to gather and hold centrally information concerning drugs dispensed in hospitals in order to determine whether NHS boards are adhering to Health Technology Board for Scotland guidelines and comments in respect of ensuring that treatment is consistent throughout all locations in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22468 today. NHSScotland should take account of advice and evidence from the Health Technology Board for Scotland and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need. Likewise, individual clinicians should take account of evidence-based guidance when exercising their clinical judgement. Centrally, the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland includes all relevant guidance when developing its standards and, subsequently, checks for compliance during its visits programme.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a pilot programme to empower patients with chronic long-term medical conditions through self-management training like the Expert Patients Programme being introduced by the NHS in England.

Malcolm Chisholm: As Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change acknowledged, people who live and cope with chronic disease or long-term disability acquire a great deal of expertise and insight about their condition. Innovative Scottish programmes, such as Allies in Change and Partners in Policymaking, have shown that the expertise of patients can be put at the heart of service redesign. When these "expert patients" and health care professionals come together to plan and develop services, strong partnerships are created which lead to positive change in service culture and practice. Change that can only come about because of the depth of understanding which patients and users of services bring to the process.

  We are building on the approach successfully demonstrated by these programmes by requiring every NHS board to set up at least one Partners in Change programme by April 2002. People with long-term health conditions are now involved in preparatory work on over 80 local Partners in Change programmes. Among these local schemes are some where people teach others with that condition how to manage it, in others patients provide training for staff on the benefits of self-management, or work with staff to plan a redesigned service. This work is confirming that people want support and recognition for the key role of those who support them, often their own family, or neighbours, helped by their GP practice. It is supporting the NHS adopt a "whole person" approach that supports the people it serves across the span of their needs.

  There are also well organised, well-informed support groups for most chronic conditions. These groups possess a powerful and valuable insight into the spectrum of needs of people with enduring health problems. We are taking steps to ensure that these support groups are closely involved in service redesign and delivery at both a local and national level.

  Patient Focus and Public Involvement, published in December of last year, reported on how this, and other work identified in the Involving People section of Our National Health, will be developed over the coming three years. Harnessing the expertise of patients is key to creating a patient-focussed NHS that exists for the patient and is designed to meet the needs and wishes of the individual receiving care and treatment.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that patients with symptoms of mental disorder and substance misuse are given a dual diagnosis in order to address both conditions.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that patients with symptoms of learning disability and substance misuse are given a dual diagnosis in order to address both conditions.

Dr Richard Simpson: Good medical and psychiatric practice for patients with a diagnosis of mental disorder or learning disability involves multi-disciplinary reviews of people in community care, or in-patient facilities, including the presenting problems, diagnosis, behaviour and care. Drug or alcohol problems will be identified as part of such practice.

  The Clinical Standards Board’s Standards for Schizophrenia include a statement that patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia should have access to assessment by a specialist in substance misuse. Over the past year, Primary Care NHS Trusts have been auditing themselves to see to what extent they comply with this standard, and a report is expected soon from the board on the findings from its external accreditation of trusts.

  Drug Misuse and Dependence – Guidelines on Clinical Management recognise that there are increased rates of psychiatric disorders among those with drug and alcohol problems. The Guidelines set out information and advice for doctors on assessing and treating such patients.

  The Executive’s Effective Interventions Unit will evaluate models of service for treating co-existing drug misuse and mental health problems in the course of 2002.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the prescription of antidepressant drugs and whether any such research has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Malcolm Chisholm: The National Research Register (NRR) records over 300 research projects throughout the UK into antidepressant drugs, some of which will involve research into their prescription. A copy of the NRR is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are available for health professionals regarding the prescribing of antidepressant drugs.

Malcolm Chisholm: Currently there are no universally accepted guidelines for clinicians treating people with depression. However, Clinical Evidence , a compendium of best available evidence in healthcare, has been distributed to healthcare professionals throughout Scotland and includes guidance on recent evidence for the effectiveness of some drug treatments for depression. NHS boards and also have their own Drug and Therapeutic Committees to advise professional staff about approved drugs including oral anti-depressants.

Health

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22767 by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 February 2002, why naming the elected representatives who briefed the UK delegation to the EU Health Council meeting in Brussels on 15 November 2001 is confidential.

Malcolm Chisholm: All details of discussions between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive are confidential, in terms of exemption 2 to the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information . This exemption covers information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion and includes internal opinion, advice, recommendation, consultation and deliberation and confidential communications between departments.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated financial cost of tackling hospital-acquired infection is in the current financial year.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information is not held centrally in the form requested. Individual NHS boards and trusts are responsible for deciding what resources are necessary for effective infection control, and for identifying these resources within the increased allocations made available to all NHS boards this year. All boards and trusts are clear that infection control is an extremely important goal for the NHS, and that their performance against the recently-agreed infection control standards developed by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland will be reported publicly by the end of 2002.

  In addition to expenditure by NHS trusts, the Department has, in 2001-02, allocated additional funding of £0.2 million for infection control nurse training and £0.5 million to support the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health in implementing the national surveillance framework for Healthcare Associated Infection.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have died from hospital-acquired infection and in how many deaths has hospital-acquired infection been a significant factor in the cause of death in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information about deaths resulting from healthcare associated infection (HAI) is not available. HAI is not a notifiable cause of death.

  There are considerable clinical uncertainties about the degree to which a HAI may contribute to death. In addition, there can be uncertainties about the source of infections which cause or contribute to death. The Scottish Executive and NHSScotland are committed to reducing the incidence of HAI. Preventing and controlling HAI is an important part of the responsibilities of every NHS trust.

Hospitals

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22009 by Malcolm Chisholm on 31 January 2002, whether it will specify which of the recommendations in the report by the Accounts Commission, Full House – Theatre Utilisation in Scottish Hospitals , have been implemented in full to ensure a greater utilisation of hospital theatres.

Malcolm Chisholm: The aim of the Accounts Commission report Full House - Theatre Utilisation in Scottish Hospitals , which was published in June 1999, was to help hospitals to improve the use of planned theatre sessions, to identify ways to minimise session and case cancellations, to make full and best use of theatre resources and to use management information in an effective way. The report made a number of recommendations for actions to assist in this regard. These recommendations were, in the main, detailed operational matters for NHS trusts.

  In compiling their Local Health Plans, NHS boards, in conjunction with NHS trusts, will assess the capacity needed to meet national and local health targets. This work will include an examination of theatre requirements and utilisation. In addition, the National Waiting Times Unit is currently working with NHS trusts, to develop and share best practice to help ensure better and more effective use of existing capacity, including theatre capacity, in NHSScotland.

Hospitals

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what daily rates are charged by hospitals that apply parking charges and what concessions apply to hospital staff.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally but could be obtained direct from those hospitals, which have introduced parking charges.

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that the rule of Scots law preventing imprisonment before trial for more than 110 days is preserved or a similar limitation on imprisonment is included in the implementation of the European arrest warrant.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission with regard to ensuring that the rule of Scots law preventing imprisonment before trial for more than 110 days is preserved or a similar limitation on imprisonment is included in the implementation of the European arrest warrant.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments it has obtained from the European Commission with regard to ensuring that the rule of Scots law preventing imprisonment before trial for more than 110 days is preserved or a similar limitation on imprisonment is included in the implementation of the European arrest warrant.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Council of Ministers of the European Union with regard to ensuring that the rule of Scots law preventing imprisonment before trial for more than 110 days is preserved or a similar limitation on imprisonment is included in the implementation of the European arrest warrant.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to send a representative to future meetings of the Council of Ministers of the European Union where the European arrest warrant will be discussed with regard to ensuring that the rule of Scots law preventing imprisonment before trial for more than 110 days is preserved or a similar limitation on imprisonment is included in the implementation of the European arrest warrant.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government with regard to ensuring that the rule of Scots law preventing imprisonment before trial for more than 110 days is preserved or a similar limitation on imprisonment is included in the implementation of the European arrest warrant.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments it has obtained from Her Majesty’s Government with regard to ensuring that the rule of Scots law preventing imprisonment before trial for more than 110 days is preserved or a similar limitation on imprisonment is included in the implementation of the European arrest warrant.

Mr Jim Wallace: Under present extradition arrangements with European member states, the 110-day rule does not apply to a fugitive committed to custody in Scotland pending a decision as to their extradition but it applies to fugitives extradited to Scotland once they have been fully committed. The position will be the same under the proposed European Arrest Warrant arrangements.

  The purpose of the Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant is to introduce simplified arrangements for the surrender of a fugitive from one member state to another. It does not attempt to regulate how each member state issuing a European Arrest Warrant deals with a fugitive on his return.

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it has sent no representative to the meetings of the Council of Ministers of the European Union at which the European arrest warrant was discussed.

Mr Jim Wallace: I attended the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 16 November 2001, where the proposal for a European Arrest Warrant was discussed.

Land

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any research entitled "The Conflicting Government 1959 and 1967 Statements on Trespass" from Alan Blackshaw, OBE, VRD of Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, and what its position is on this research and Mr Blackshaw’s conclusions and, in particular, on whether there is a law of trespass in Scotland.

Ross Finnie: I am aware of the research conducted by Mr Blackshaw relating to the current legal position in respect of access by the public to land. The conflicting evidence on this subject to the Justice 2 Committee from Mr Blackshaw and others, including the Law Society of Scotland, reinforces our view of the need for legislation to establish clear rights of responsible access as set out in Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Licensing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to introducing legislation on the licensing of lap-dancing clubs.

Mr Jim Wallace: By virtue of the provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, such establishments are required to be licensed by   local licensing boards for the provision of alcohol. A local authority Public Entertainment Licence, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, must also be obtained where the entertainment continues after the conclusion of the normal evening permitted hours for selling alcohol (11 pm). The Executive has not received representations that the current licensing arrangements for these kinds of club, which allow for objections to be lodged, are unsatisfactory.

Marine Stewardship

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish input there has been into the draft Marine Stewardship Report of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Allan Wilson: The Marine Stewardship Report is intended to cover the United Kingdom as a whole. Although many of the matters addressed in the report are reserved, the Scottish Executive has been closely involved in the drafting of the report where it touches on devolved matters or issues with a particular Scottish dimension. The Executive also hosted a workshop last November to obtain the views of Scottish stakeholders on the scope and content of the report.

Ministerial Correspondence

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning will reply to my letter of 14 December 2001 regarding the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to my letter of 25 February 2002.

Ministerial Parliamentary Aides

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any additional cost to the taxpayer following the appointment of eight Ministerial Parliamentary Aides and what budget has been set aside to accommodate any such costs.

Mr Jack McConnell: Ministerial Parliamentary Aides are unpaid. If they make any visits within the United Kingdom relating to their duties as a Ministerial Parliamentary Aide, they would be entitled to normal Civil Service travel and subsistence allowances. It is not envisaged that such visits will occur very often, and no specific budget has been set aside to accommodate any such costs.

NHS Finance

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what sums were received by NHS boards and trusts in donations from the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service or other charitable bodies in each year since 1997, broken down by NHS board area and charitable body.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on donations received from individual organisations is not held centrally.

  The annual accounts of NHS trusts only provide information relating to the utilisation of donations as a whole within the financial year reported.

  The total value of charitable donations used to fund revenue expenditure is reported on note 28 of the Summarised Account of NHS trusts in Scotland which can be found in the NHS (Scotland) Summarised Accounts for the year, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  The following table gives the relevant Bib. numbers:

  


Publication Title 
  

Bib. number 
  



NHS (Scotland) Summarised Accounts 1996-97 
  

19726 
  



NHS (Scotland) Summarised Accounts 1997-98 
  

11584 
  



NHS (Scotland) Summarised Accounts 1998-99 
  

11585 
  



NHS (Scotland) Summarised Accounts 1999-2000 
  

19675 
  



NHS (Scotland) Summarised Accounts for year ending 31 March 
  2001 
  

18356

National Health Service

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with NHS boards in order to consider the rationalisation of computer systems throughout Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHSBoards have been working closely with colleagues in the Scottish Executive to update the National IM&T Strategy and are now working to take the strategy forward. A theme of the updated strategy, available on www.show.scot.nhs.uk is rationalisation of systems and the underlying infrastructure.

  Commitments are made in the strategy to national programmes of work to bring best practice and consistent benefits to patients across Scotland including:

  Electronic Clinical Communications Implementation between primary and secondary care on an all Scotland basis.

  Scottish Care Information programme bringing important elements of common infrastructure to enable sharing of information across NHSScotland.

  National systems for health screening and child care.

  Rationalisation of patient indexes and use of the Community Health Index as a unique patient identifier across all NHSScotland systems.

  National information standards covering clinical messages, security and confidentiality of patient identifiable information, electronic patient and health records and technical standards based on the Government Interoperability Framework.

  Collaboration to produce coherent IM&T strategies across NHSBoard areas to make best use of resources and systems across the area and compatibility with other NHSScotland areas.

  National contracts for telecommunications networks and services.

  A coherent national approach to corporate support systems such as payroll, human resources, finance and supplies.

National Health Service

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a policy of rationalisation and compatibility of computer systems throughout the NHS in Scotland, in particular in order to take advantage of advances in telecommunications relating to its strategy on broadband and digital technology.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-23021 today, which confirmed that we are adopting a policy of rationalisation and compatibility of computer systems throughout NHSScotland. Rationalisation of systems and resources is necessary to achieve cost effectiveness, best use of available resources and to enable patient information to be shared with appropriate consent and under agreed protocols between NHS organisations across a board area and across Scotland. This approach is reflected in the updated National IM&T Strategy available on www.show.scot.nhs.uk .

  An important element of the infrastructure required to provide the right information at the right time in the right place across the whole of Scotland is a robust telecommunications network with the capacity to cope with the millions of clinical messages exchanged each year and increasingly with the sharing of images including real time images such as are used in telemedicine. For those reasons NHSScotland are active partners in the Scottish Executive Broadband initiative in which the Highlands and Islands as well as the South of Scotland are designated as pathfinder areas.

National Health Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio of administration staff to the total number of beds in the NHS was in each of the last 10 years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows the trend in administration staff and available staffed beds, between 1991-92 and 2000-01:

  Administration Staff and Available Staffed Beds in the NHS

  


Year 
  

Administration Staff (WTE) 
  

Average Available Staffed Beds 
  

Ratio of Staff per 100 Beds 
  



1991-92 
  

15,021 
  

48,738 
  

30.8 
  



1992-93 
  

15,890 
  

46,731 
  

34.0 
  



1993-94 
  

16,665 
  

44,185 
  

37.7 
  



1994-95 
  

17,596 
  

42,351 
  

41.5 
  



1995-96 
  

18,016 
  

40,555 
  

44.4 
  



1996-97 
  

17,478 
  

38,427 
  

45.5 
  



1997-98 
  

17,152 
  

36,784 
  

46.6 
  



1998-99 
  

17,030 
  

35,182 
  

48.4 
  



1999-2000 
  

16,822 
  

33,475 
  

50.3 
  



2000-01 
  

17,017 
  

32,103 
  

53.0 
  



  Notes:

  1. The figures for administration staff include administration and clerical staff, senior management and senior nurse managers, and cover all staff employed by health board areas.

  2. The figures for average available staffed beds are based on the average daily beds available for the reception of in-patients.

  The number of administration staff rose between 1991-92 and 1995-96. Since then the number has fallen from 18,016 to 17,017, a reduction of 5.5%. The reduction in staffed beds throughout this period reflects a number of factors including the transfer of patients from hospital to community care, increased use of day surgery, and shorter lengths of stay.

  The increase in the ratio of administration staff to staffed beds in the NHS does not take into account the major expansion that has taken place over this period in the provision of care and treatment for patients in the community, and in hospital settings that do not require the use of inpatient beds.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22673 by Lewis MacDonald on 15 February 2002, (a) in what format it holds the information requested in respect of questions answered substantively by referring to the answer to inspired question S1W-20573 by Lewis MacDonald on 29 November 2001, (b) why it was not able to provide the information requested, given that the information is available on the Parliament's website, and (c) whether it will now provide the specific details and costs requested in respect of each question so answered, giving the reasons for its position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: I have no further information to give to the member beyond that given in my answer to question S1W-22673.

Police

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs have been incurred in respect of policing the demonstrations at Faslane during the week commencing 11 February 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter falling within the responsibility of the Chief Constable of Strathclyde. However, I am advised that the Strathclyde Police operation in respect of policing these demonstrations, over the period 8 February until 13 February 2002, cost approximately £169,000.

Police

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were involved in policing demonstrations at Faslane during the week commencing 11 February 2002 and to which (a) constabularies and (b) divisions they are assigned.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter falling within the responsibility of the Chief Constable of Strathclyde. However, I am advised that throughout the duration of the Strathclyde Police operation to police these demonstrations, over the period 8 February until 13 February 2002, a total of 880 police officers were deployed. All officers deployed were from Strathclyde Police, drawn from all divisions within the force.

Police

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of allocating resources to policing demonstrations at Faslane during the week commencing 11 February 2002 has been on day-to-day policing throughout Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter falling within the responsibility of the Chief Constable of Strathclyde. However, I am advised that the need to deploy a total of 880 police officers in connection with this demonstration inevitably diverted the officers concerned from other duties as well as incurring significant additional costs in extra duty and other payments. Strathclyde Police dealt with these pressures without making demands on other forces.

Postal Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of proposals to open the market for postal services on the level of unemployment.

Allan Wilson: Postal services are a reserved matter. Subject to Postcomm’s primary duty to ensure the provision of a universal postal service it also has a remit to promote competition in the interests of consumers. The UK Government take the view that the way in which postal operators respond to any opening of the market is a commercial matter for them.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20333 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 January 2002, why the valuation for the buildings of former HM Prison Penninghame remains confidential after the sale has been completed.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Valuation Office Agency provides valuations on a confidential basis, in accordance with the Standard Conditions of Engagement. These are governed in line with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ Valuation and Appraisal Manual.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-20333 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 January 2002, whether it or the Scottish Prison Service approached the Valuation Office Agency to request permission for the valuation for the buildings of former HM Prison Penninghame to be made public in answer to question S1W-20333 and whether the Valuation Office Agency refused such permission.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No. The answer given to question S1W-23454 today, reflects the current position.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20333 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 January 2002, whether it or the Scottish Prison Service intend to approach the Valuation Office Agency to request permission for the valuation for the buildings of former HM Prison Penninghame to be made public and whether, if such permission is granted, it will publish the valuation.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No, for the reasons given in answer to question S1W-23454 today.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20333 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 January 2002, why the offers received by the Scottish Prison Service for the buildings of former HM Prison Penninghame remain confidential after the sale has been completed.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The offers for the buildings of former HM Prison, Penninghame were received on a "commercial in confidence" basis and cannot, therefore, be disclosed.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all those from whom it received offers for the purchase of the buildings of former HM Prison Penninghame.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No. The offers for the purchase of the buildings of former HM Prison, Penninghame were received on a "commercial in confidence" basis and cannot, therefore, be disclosed.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20333 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 January 2002, whether it will place the details of the sale of the buildings of the former HM Prison Penninghame in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  As confirmed in the written answer to question S1W-20333 on 28 January 2002, the sale price of the former HM Prison, Penninghame was £275,000. This information is recorded and can be accessed in the Land Register.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many invitations to tender for the purchase of HM Prison Penninghame were made.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  None. The property was placed for sale on the open market.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19658 by Iain Gray on 16 November 2001, what visits to HM Prison Peterhead have been arranged for 2002 as a result of the prison receiving the Beacon Site award.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  HMP Peterhead plan to host four Learning Activity Days on:

  14 May 2002

  26 June 2002

  4 September 2002

  6 November 2002.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many supervisors of the STOP programme were previously involved in delivering training under the programme.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The STOP programme has been delivered since 1993 in four sites. Such detailed information is not readily available.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of Scottish Prison Service staff trained in the delivery of the STOP programme have, within six weeks of completing such training, participated in the programme’s delivery.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The STOP programme has been delivered since 1993 in four sites. Such detailed information is not readily available.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many conveners of committees of the Parliament it invited to nominate candidates for selection as Independent Assessors.

Mr Andy Kerr: The convenors of all the parliamentary committees were asked in June 2001 to identify individuals who might be considered for appointment as an Independent Assessor.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many conveners of committees of the Parliament, which it invited to nominate Independent Assessors, replied to the invitation and whom any convener nominated.

Mr Andy Kerr: None of the convenors of the parliamentary committees replied to the invitation to identify individuals who might be considered for appointment as an Independent Assessor.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which political parties were invited to submit nominations for the Independent Assessors appointed on 29 January 2002 and which parties replied.

Mr Andy Kerr: All the political parties represented in the Scottish Parliament and the independent member were invited by letter on 27 June 2001, to identify individuals who might be considered for appointment as an Independent Assessor. None of the parties nor the independent member replied.

Rail Network

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the report on the study carried out by Steer Davies Gleave on the aspirations of South East Scotland Transport Partnership authorities for new or enhanced passenger services in the Edinburgh area and when it expects to publish the report.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Strategic Rail Study is currently considering the costs and benefits of potential service improvements across all congested parts of the Scottish rail network, including the SESTRAN area. The final report is due at the end of July 2002 and it will be published shortly afterwards.

Rail Network

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a copy of the report and study funded by the Strategic Rail Authority and carried out by Railtrack to assess track, signalling and power supply constraints and the cost of measures required to increase capacity for train movements in the south east of Scotland and when it anticipates publishing the report.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Strategic Rail Study is currently considering the costs and benefits of potential service improvements across all congested parts of the Scottish rail network, including those in the south east of Scotland. Information from the Central Scotland Capacity Review by Railtrack will feed into this study. The final report for the Scottish Strategic Rail Study is due at the end of July 2002 and will be published shortly afterwards.

Rail Network

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £7 billion which the Strategic Rail Authority has estimated will be needed to purchase new trains from the private sector will be required for the Scottish network.

Lewis Macdonald: This figure is the Strategic Rail Authority's best estimate of the commitments needed to deliver the short and medium term priorities for growth and improvement set out in The Strategic Plan . The proportion of that figure that will be required for the Scottish network depends both on the contents of our directions and guidance for the Scottish passenger rail franchise and on the subsequent commercial negotiations that the SRA will conduct on the Executive's behalf.

Road Accidents

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents were (a) recorded and (b) reported to the Procurator Fiscal by each police force in each month since May 1997 and how many such accidents were recorded as being caused by adverse or winter weather conditions.

Lewis Macdonald: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured: they do not cover damage only accidents. The returns do not provide information about the causes of the accidents.

  Accidents for which adverse or winter weather conditions were reported as an attributable factor are not identified as such in the STATS 19 returns. The returns do, however, include information about the weather and the road surface condition at the time of the accident.

  The following table 1 lists the number of injury road accidents by month and police force from May 1997 to October 2001, the latest month for which information for each force area is held centrally.

  The following table 2 lists the number of these injury road accidents which occurred in what might be regarded as adverse or winter weather conditions. The following types of accidents were counted for the purpose of producing the figures in this table - those for which either (a) the weather was recorded as one of the following: snowing; fine with high winds; raining with high winds; fog or mist (if hazard); or other adverse weather conditions; or (b) the road surface condition was recorded as one of the following: snow; frost/ice; or flood (surface water over 3 cm deep).

  In the tables all figures for 2001 are provisional.

  Information on road accidents which lead to a report to Procurators Fiscal is not held centrally.

  Table 1 Injury road accidents by month and police force:

  May 1997 to October 2001

  








Northern 
  

Grampian 
  

Tayside 
  

Fife 
  

Lothian
& Borders 
  

Central 
  

Strathclyde 
  

Dumfries & Galloway 
  

Scotland 
  



1997 
  

May 
  

89 
  

125 
  

117 
  

77 
  

280 
  

67 
  

611 
  

40 
  

1,406 
  






June 
  

96 
  

121 
  

96 
  

69 
  

294 
  

88 
  

621 
  

33 
  

1,418 
  






July 
  

98 
  

137 
  

98 
  

58 
  

270 
  

83 
  

627 
  

45 
  

1,416 
  






August 
  

99 
  

125 
  

125 
  

60 
  

328 
  

90 
  

587 
  

46 
  

1,460 
  






September 
  

82 
  

123 
  

106 
  

65 
  

268 
  

81 
  

570 
  

39 
  

1,334 
  






October 
  

73 
  

123 
  

125 
  

81 
  

320 
  

55 
  

646 
  

37 
  

1,460 
  






November 
  

66 
  

147 
  

122 
  

75 
  

336 
  

70 
  

655 
  

27 
  

1,498 
  






December 
  

62 
  

137 
  

97 
  

63 
  

311 
  

81 
  

685 
  

28 
  

1,464 
  



1998 
  

January 
  

54 
  

107 
  

92 
  

76 
  

285 
  

55 
  

604 
  

47 
  

1,320 
  






February 
  

61 
  

97 
  

91 
  

50 
  

274 
  

53 
  

523 
  

36 
  

1,185 
  






March 
  

72 
  

116 
  

90 
  

41 
  

274 
  

63 
  

568 
  

35 
  

1,259 
  






April 
  

69 
  

104 
  

90 
  

56 
  

280 
  

62 
  

531 
  

23 
  

1,215 
  






May 
  

68 
  

111 
  

111 
  

65 
  

308 
  

71 
  

611 
  

39 
  

1,384 
  






June 
  

84 
  

112 
  

120 
  

59 
  

272 
  

82 
  

624 
  

40 
  

1,393 
  






July 
  

75 
  

117 
  

95 
  

53 
  

295 
  

72 
  

554 
  

38 
  

1,299 
  






August 
  

131 
  

147 
  

110 
  

70 
  

336 
  

81 
  

658 
  

41 
  

1,574 
  






September 
  

88 
  

130 
  

126 
  

64 
  

277 
  

58 
  

542 
  

33 
  

1,318 
  






October 
  

82 
  

127 
  

103 
  

70 
  

328 
  

68 
  

787 
  

28 
  

1,593 
  






November 
  

76 
  

127 
  

124 
  

60 
  

308 
  

59 
  

670 
  

47 
  

1,471 
  






December 
  

88 
  

114 
  

106 
  

67 
  

315 
  

76 
  

691 
  

51 
  

1,508 
  



1999 
  

January 
  

64 
  

105 
  

105 
  

59 
  

267 
  

48 
  

573 
  

44 
  

1,265 
  






February 
  

68 
  

103 
  

91 
  

43 
  

242 
  

49 
  

575 
  

23 
  

1,194 
  






March 
  

55 
  

98 
  

102 
  

66 
  

268 
  

64 
  

549 
  

32 
  

1,234 
  






April 
  

52 
  

102 
  

85 
  

59 
  

230 
  

58 
  

555 
  

30 
  

1,171 
  






May 
  

57 
  

108 
  

88 
  

60 
  

259 
  

57 
  

581 
  

29 
  

1,239 
  






June 
  

79 
  

83 
  

92 
  

55 
  

262 
  

66 
  

541 
  

28 
  

1,206 
  






July 
  

122 
  

91 
  

129 
  

69 
  

240 
  

75 
  

536 
  

39 
  

1,301 
  






August 
  

118 
  

104 
  

95 
  

49 
  

282 
  

56 
  

544 
  

26 
  

1,274 
  






September 
  

76 
  

123 
  

119 
  

55 
  

275 
  

80 
  

601 
  

32 
  

1,361 
  






October 
  

52 
  

94 
  

114 
  

54 
  

290 
  

46 
  

632 
  

26 
  

1,308 
  






November 
  

90 
  

110 
  

122 
  

74 
  

301 
  

83 
  

629 
  

36 
  

1,445 
  






December 
  

76 
  

118 
  

115 
  

67 
  

315 
  

53 
  

628 
  

43 
  

1,415 
  



2000 
  

January 
  

52 
  

84 
  

88 
  

66 
  

279 
  

56 
  

551 
  

41 
  

1,217 
  






February 
  

51 
  

104 
  

114 
  

73 
  

282 
  

56 
  

608 
  

28 
  

1,316 
  






March 
  

60 
  

68 
  

84 
  

47 
  

241 
  

40 
  

533 
  

26 
  

1,099 
  






April 
  

65 
  

92 
  

85 
  

52 
  

238 
  

56 
  

514 
  

26 
  

1,128 
  






May 
  

70 
  

123 
  

86 
  

61 
  

256 
  

72 
  

531 
  

29 
  

1,228 
  






June 
  

64 
  

92 
  

105 
  

58 
  

262 
  

58 
  

519 
  

38 
  

1,196 
  






July 
  

81 
  

90 
  

86 
  

63 
  

257 
  

55 
  

482 
  

42 
  

1,156 
  






August 
  

98 
  

121 
  

112 
  

73 
  

292 
  

58 
  

585 
  

38 
  

1,377 
  






September 
  

59 
  

106 
  

104 
  

68 
  

269 
  

47 
  

533 
  

39 
  

1,225 
  






October 
  

63 
  

104 
  

83 
  

76 
  

292 
  

59 
  

599 
  

43 
  

1,319 
  






November 
  

73 
  

120 
  

127 
  

83 
  

339 
  

52 
  

688 
  

34 
  

1,516 
  






December 
  

66 
  

121 
  

100 
  

64 
  

294 
  

63 
  

588 
  

37 
  

1,333 
  



2001 
  

January 
  

66 
  

97 
  

106 
  

48 
  

263 
  

56 
  

531 
  

48 
  

1,215 
  






February 
  

54 
  

90 
  

114 
  

59 
  

251 
  

44 
  

524 
  

32 
  

1,168 
  






March 
  

50 
  

95 
  

70 
  

48 
  

230 
  

44 
  

538 
  

22 
  

1,097 
  






April 
  

69 
  

80 
  

102 
  

55 
  

217 
  

32 
  

461 
  

23 
  

1,039 
  






May 
  

72 
  

82 
  

102 
  

56 
  

259 
  

49 
  

566 
  

42 
  

1,228 
  






June 
  

69 
  

80 
  

100 
  

63 
  

310 
  

64 
  

537 
  

28 
  

1,251 
  






July 
  

87 
  

96 
  

95 
  

68 
  

227 
  

67 
  

499 
  

38 
  

1,177 
  






August 
  

78 
  

97 
  

107 
  

70 
  

299 
  

54 
  

582 
  

59 
  

1,346 
  






September 
  

74 
  

90 
  

98 
  

44 
  

275 
  

56 
  

518 
  

28 
  

1,183 
  






October 
  

63 
  

102 
  

98 
  

49 
  

261 
  

62 
  

587 
  

38 
  

1,260 
  



  Table 2 Injury road accidents which occurred in what might be regarded as adverse or winter weather conditions by month and police force:

  May 1997 October 2001

  








Northern 
  

Grampian 
  

Tayside 
  

Fife 
  

Lothian
& Borders 
  

Central 
  

Strathclyde 
  

Dumfries & Galloway 
  

Scotland 
  



1997 
  

May 
  

19 
  

7 
  

3 
  

2 
  

5 
  

3 
  

15 
  

1 
  

55 
  






June 
  

8 
  

4 
  

0 
  

2 
  

5 
  

3 
  

16 
  

0 
  

38 
  






July 
  

6 
  

6 
  

3 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

23 
  

1 
  

41 
  






August 
  

2 
  

4 
  

2 
  

0 
  

10 
  

3 
  

10 
  

1 
  

32 
  






September 
  

7 
  

5 
  

5 
  

6 
  

10 
  

11 
  

50 
  

1 
  

95 
  






October 
  

6 
  

2 
  

4 
  

1 
  

9 
  

2 
  

31 
  

1 
  

56 
  






November 
  

17 
  

15 
  

5 
  

7 
  

9 
  

7 
  

62 
  

3 
  

125 
  






December 
  

19 
  

20 
  

6 
  

9 
  

31 
  

15 
  

138 
  

9 
  

247 
  



1998 
  

January 
  

21 
  

11 
  

21 
  

17 
  

33 
  

13 
  

103 
  

9 
  

228 
  






February 
  

24 
  

16 
  

2 
  

4 
  

41 
  

8 
  

122 
  

8 
  

225 
  






March 
  

25 
  

20 
  

7 
  

2 
  

16 
  

4 
  

56 
  

3 
  

133 
  






April 
  

17 
  

26 
  

12 
  

7 
  

8 
  

5 
  

34 
  

2 
  

111 
  






May 
  

3 
  

1 
  

3 
  

2 
  

5 
  

0 
  

22 
  

1 
  

37 
  






June 
  

5 
  

2 
  

1 
  

3 
  

3 
  

0 
  

10 
  

0 
  

24 
  






July 
  

9 
  

5 
  

2 
  

0 
  

5 
  

3 
  

14 
  

2 
  

40 
  






August 
  

12 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

3 
  

3 
  

28 
  

2 
  

48 
  






September 
  

4 
  

15 
  

10 
  

3 
  

7 
  

0 
  

17 
  

1 
  

57 
  






October 
  

19 
  

19 
  

10 
  

7 
  

17 
  

9 
  

128 
  

3 
  

212 
  






November 
  

26 
  

26 
  

20 
  

10 
  

26 
  

6 
  

109 
  

8 
  

231 
  






December 
  

36 
  

37 
  

20 
  

14 
  

44 
  

18 
  

147 
  

17 
  

333 
  



1999 
  

January 
  

28 
  

31 
  

31 
  

15 
  

44 
  

14 
  

183 
  

17 
  

363 
  






February 
  

38 
  

49 
  

16 
  

9 
  

97 
  

10 
  

106 
  

4 
  

329 
  






March 
  

12 
  

14 
  

3 
  

4 
  

53 
  

2 
  

31 
  

5 
  

124 
  






April 
  

8 
  

16 
  

4 
  

4 
  

64 
  

4 
  

37 
  

3 
  

140 
  






May 
  

4 
  

4 
  

0 
  

4 
  

26 
  

3 
  

51 
  

0 
  

92 
  






June 
  

6 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  

24 
  

3 
  

18 
  

1 
  

54 
  






July 
  

7 
  

2 
  

2 
  

2 
  

27 
  

1 
  

10 
  

0 
  

51 
  






August 
  

4 
  

3 
  

0 
  

2 
  

56 
  

0 
  

5 
  

0 
  

70 
  






September 
  

4 
  

10 
  

6 
  

3 
  

59 
  

2 
  

35 
  

4 
  

123 
  






October 
  

3 
  

6 
  

2 
  

3 
  

85 
  

3 
  

60 
  

3 
  

165 
  






November 
  

24 
  

18 
  

11 
  

5 
  

132 
  

17 
  

132 
  

6 
  

345 
  






December 
  

42 
  

55 
  

41 
  

23 
  

194 
  

25 
  

260 
  

24 
  

664 
  



2000 
  

January 
  

18 
  

20 
  

18 
  

18 
  

128 
  

22 
  

132 
  

12 
  

368 
  






February 
  

19 
  

11 
  

29 
  

25 
  

111 
  

16 
  

185 
  

8 
  

404 
  






March 
  

9 
  

13 
  

5 
  

3 
  

67 
  

6 
  

51 
  

0 
  

154 
  






April 
  

4 
  

11 
  

6 
  

5 
  

29 
  

5 
  

25 
  

1 
  

86 
  






May 
  

4 
  

3 
  

0 
  

1 
  

6 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

18 
  






June 
  

2 
  

5 
  

1 
  

2 
  

9 
  

3 
  

18 
  

0 
  

40 
  






July 
  

5 
  

3 
  

0 
  

0 
  

6 
  

1 
  

4 
  

0 
  

19 
  






August 
  

5 
  

3 
  

1 
  

0 
  

3 
  

4 
  

10 
  

1 
  

27 
  






September 
  

2 
  

9 
  

2 
  

1 
  

13 
  

4 
  

24 
  

1 
  

56 
  






October 
  

9 
  

16 
  

5 
  

5 
  

17 
  

6 
  

67 
  

6 
  

131 
  






November 
  

13 
  

18 
  

10 
  

6 
  

35 
  

10 
  

82 
  

8 
  

182 
  






December 
  

20 
  

34 
  

25 
  

17 
  

40 
  

12 
  

128 
  

17 
  

293 
  



2001 
  

January 
  

30 
  

25 
  

24 
  

9 
  

41 
  

21 
  

97 
  

18 
  

265 
  






February 
  

29 
  

35 
  

42 
  

19 
  

65 
  

9 
  

125 
  

14 
  

338 
  






March 
  

9 
  

12 
  

6 
  

5 
  

16 
  

6 
  

49 
  

0 
  

103 
  






April 
  

5 
  

8 
  

3 
  

1 
  

8 
  

3 
  

15 
  

0 
  

43 
  






May 
  

4 
  

1 
  

2 
  

0 
  

11 
  

0 
  

9 
  

0 
  

27 
  






June 
  

1 
  

2 
  

3 
  

3 
  

11 
  

2 
  

18 
  

0 
  

40 
  






July 
  

6 
  

5 
  

1 
  

2 
  

9 
  

2 
  

14 
  

2 
  

41 
  






August 
  

3 
  

3 
  

0 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

13 
  

0 
  

23 
  






September 
  

7 
  

6 
  

0 
  

2 
  

6 
  

1 
  

20 
  

2 
  

44 
  






October 
  

11 
  

10 
  

9 
  

0 
  

21 
  

10 
  

77 
  

4 
  

142

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that BEAR Scotland Ltd meets representatives of the community in Mallaig in relation to the complaints from Mallaig Community Council in regard to the condition of the A830, and whether it will require BEAR Scotland Ltd to produce an action plan for the community of Mallaig to deal with pot holes and repairs to the A830 trunk road.

Lewis Macdonald: BEAR Scotland Ltd. met with representatives of Mallaig Community Council on 20 February 2002 to discuss their concerns regarding the condition of the A830, in particular the section of the road east of Arisaig.

  To address those concerns, a structural maintenance scheme has been identified for implementation this autumn. An interim strategy to undertake urgent repairs and increase the frequency of safety inspections, has also been formulated to ensure road safety is maintained.

Rural Stewardship Scheme

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21315 by Ross Finnie on 20 December 2001, whether it will give a detailed breakdown of how the £18 million for the Rural Stewardship Scheme in the current financial year will be allocated, broken down by scheme area or Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office.

Ross Finnie: Following further appraisal of successful Rural Stewardship Scheme applications, the total value of plans for those who have been offered entry to the Scheme is £17 million over five years.

  Details of the anticipated spend for the Rural Stewardship Scheme in the current financial year, broken down by Environment and Rural Affairs Department Area and local offices are given in the following table:

  


Area Office 
  

Financial Year 2001-02 Anticipated Spend 
  



Ayr 
  

£225,511 
  



Benbecula 
  

£260 
  



Dumfries 
  

£47,642 
  



Dundee 
  

£7,405 
  



Galashiels 
  

£65,551 
  



Grampian 
  

£428,238 
  



Hamilton 
  

£58,486 
  



Inverness 
  

£330,708 
  



Kirkwall 
  

£86,257 
  



Lairg 
  

£14,910 
  



Lerwick 
  

£825 
  



Oban 
  

£100,834 
  



Perth 
  

£36,794 
  



Portree 
  

£1866 
  



Stirling 
  

£73,588 
  



Stornoway 
  

£18,583 
  



Thurso 
  

£157,047

Rural Stewardship Scheme

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-22360 and S1W-22361 by Ross Finnie on 8 February 2002, whether it will clarify the difference in figures showing the allocations made in the current financial year under the Rural Stewardship Scheme and whether it will provide a definitive list showing all allocations made this year.

Ross Finnie: Further to the answer to questions S1W-22360 and S1W-22361 on 8 February 2002, the difference in figures showing the allocations made is because the response to question S1W-22360 details the anticipated spend in one financial year while the response to question S1W-22361 sets out the allocation of funds over five financial years in respect of the applications of those who have been offered an agreement to join the scheme.

  It is not possible to provide a definitive statement of what will be spent this year because not all businesses to which an agreement has been offered have yet accepted, and because within the five year period of the agreement scheme participants have some discretion about when to carry out certain capital works and when to claim reimbursement. Estimates of spending on Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) measures in any particular financial year are therefore subject to variation. A geographical division of anticipated spending on RSS measures in the current financial year, based on revised forecasts, is provided in the response to question S1W-23014 today.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to print, publish and distribute its report Evaluation of New Deal for Young People in Scotland: Phase Two .

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Evaluation of New Deal for Young People in Scotland: Phase Two report by the Policy Studies Institute was published by the Scottish Executive on 28 February 2002. The total cost to print, publish and distribute the report was £1,100.

Secure Units

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that there is an adequate number of places in secure accommodation for children with behavioural difficulties.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has contributed to developments at St Mary’s Kenmure and the Elms unit in Dundee since June 2001, which has increased the number of places available in Scotland from 85 to 96.

  The Secure Accommodation Advisory Group has provided an interim report on the availability and use of secure accommodation. I am considering the report findings and will make an announcement on this shortly.

Sex Offenders

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes for sex offenders are currently available in (a) prison and (b) the community, where these programmes are provided and what criteria must be met before sex offenders can access them.

Mr Jim Wallace: (a) The Core Sex Offender Programme (STOP 2000) is currently available at HMP Barlinnie and HMP Peterhead.

  Criteria for this programme include a history of sex offending and appropriate cognitive ability. Those referred must agree to go onto the programme. Prisoners may be deemed not ready to take part in the programme in relation to a number of other criteria relating to literacy, physical and mental health and complete denial of offence.

  The Adapted Sex Offender Programme is available at HMP Peterhead and HMYOI Polmont.

  Criteria for this programme include a history of sex offending and cognitive level of borderline learning disability or below or social functioning problems. Again, the prisoner may be deemed not ready if they do not meet the other criteria such as mental and physical health, or are in complete denial.

  Sex offenders can also access Scottish Prison Service programmes for Anger Management, Cognitive Skills, Drugs, Problem Solving and Approved Activities in Relationships, Alcohol, Parenting and Drugs at most establishments.

  (b) The Scottish Executive funds local authorities through the 100% funding arrangements for criminal justice social work to provide programmes for sex offenders. Where a specific group work programme is not available in an area a qualified social worker will work with an offender on an individual basis to address his/her needs. All offenders subject to statutory supervision whether as part of a community sentence or on release from custody have access to programmes either on a group or individual basis. Offenders not subject to statutory post release supervision can access programmes by seeking voluntary assistance.

Skye Bridge

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any study into the feasibility of the Skye Bridge with the title or Scottish Office number "RD12" exists and whether it will place a copy of any such study in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Lewis Macdonald: The Study Report,  Skye Bridge Revised Study and Economic Feasibility Report was published in 1988 and was lodged on production SO RD12 at the public local enquiry into the Skye Bridge project in 1992. A copy has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 19709).

Special Educational Needs

Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on demand-led special needs education (a) nationally and (b) by each local authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is set out in the table in Section 5(i) of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA) (Scottish Branch) Rating Review Actuals of Income and Expenditure , published annually. Copies for the five years from 1996-97 to 2000-01 are available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 7544, 7545, 7548, 14654 and 19781).

Statistics

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are being developed to assure the reliability and integrity of official statistics.

Mr Andy Kerr: A new Code of Practice on official statistics has now been released for consultation across the UK. We have been developing this in collaboration with the UK Government and other devolved administrations. I am today laying a copy of this code before Parliament and circulating it widely for comment.

  The code is accompanied by a more detailed protocol on the arrangements for release of statistics, and protocols on other related matters may also be made available in future.

  I invite parliamentary committees and MSPs to consider and comment on the code and discuss it with me if they wish.

Telecommunications

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to manufacturers of mobile telephones regarding the health implications of using such telephones.

Malcolm Chisholm: Mobile telephones should comply with the Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive Article 3.1.(a), which states as an essential requirement "the protection of the health and safety of the user and any other person…" This requirement is achieved by compliance with the EU Recommendation on Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, which specifies the exposure guidelines of the International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones chaired by Sir William Stewart also recommended that the ICNIRP guidelines should be adopted for use in the UK. This was accepted by Government, including the Scottish Executive, and industry.

Telecommunications

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) rural and (b) semi-rural areas currently have no access to cable services.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The following table shows which areas in Scotland have access to cable services:

  % Households with Cable access by Region

  


Region 
  

% households with access to cable 
  



Grampian 
  

0 
  



Tayside 
  

30 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

0 
  



Lothian 
  

44 
  



Central 
  

9 
  



Strathclyde 
  

34 
  



Islands area 
  

0 
  



Highlands 
  

0 
  



Fife 
  

13 
  



Borders 
  

0

Tourism

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the Review of the Tourism Strategy.

Mike Watson: We have completed the Review and I am publishing today the Tourism Framework for Action 2002-2005 . This document will take forward the February 2000 Strategy, not replace it. The framework provides a clear sense of direction and way forward. It identifies the further steps that need to be taken, particularly by businesses themselves, supported by the public sector.

  The document is available today on the Scottish Executive website and in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19686).

Water

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether current legislation regarding lead levels in drinking water is being complied with by each local authority in regard to its housing stock.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish water authorities monitor compliance with the lead standard set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. When non-compliance is detected as a result of domestic plumbing, the owners/occupiers of the building are notified of the failure and the steps that they can take to remedy the fault. The Scottish Executive does not hold records regarding the level of compliance with the lead standard in local authority housing stock.

Water

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it has undertaken into the level of lead in drinking water and whether it will publish the results of any such investigations.

Ross Finnie: The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 require the Scottish water authorities to monitor levels of lead in drinking water. A summary of compliance with the lead standard set in the Regulations is published annually in the Executive’s report Drinking Water Quality in Scotland . A copy of the latest report is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17148).

  In addition, a survey is currently being undertaken by the water authorities to determine the level of compliance across Scotland with the tighter lead standard being introduced in December 2003. The purpose of the survey is to identify areas where steps need to be taken to meet the new standard. The results of this survey will be published in a future edition of Drinking Water Quality in Scotland.

Water

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds comparative information about the acceptable levels of lead in drinking water in all EU countries and whether Scotland’s standards are being observed consistently across the country.

Ross Finnie: The current standard for lead in drinking water in EU Member States is set in EC Directive (80/778/EEC). The new Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC), which sets a tighter standard for lead, comes into force in December 2003. The Scottish Executive does not hold information about the level of compliance in other member states with 80/778/EEC.

  The level of compliance with the lead standard, in regulatory samples taken by the water authorities in 2000, was: East of Scotland Water Authority – 98.27%; West of Scotland Water Authority – 99.36% and North of Scotland Water Authority – 99.36%.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Katrine Water Project, what the energy consumption per year will be as a result of pumping treated water from Balmore through the pipe network at Bardowie.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive’s response is:

  The energy consumption associated with pumping water from Balmore to the existing Glasgow supply system will vary depending upon the water demand in any given year and the mode of operation selected for both the Balmore and the new Milngavie water treatment plants. Based on an average year demand, the energy consumption of pumping from Balmore into the Glasgow supply system could lie within the operating range of 3.6 million kWh to 7 million kWh.

  For the option selection process, the lower figure was selected for use in all option comparisons as being the most representative energy consumption figure for a typical operating year and compatible with operating efficiency frameworks.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22086 by Ross Finnie on 4 February 2002, whether the relative weightings chosen by West of Scotland Water in respect of different disciplines in the project team distorted the importance attached to immaterial differences in engineering criteria.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive’s response is:

  Each discipline was asked to score options against their criteria to assist in summarising the information in the Environmental Statement. Each discipline adopted its own scoring approach and a variety of different ranges and scoring methods were used, although for all criteria a low score represented worse and a high score better performance. So for example the environmental team scored all options on a range of 1 (worst) to 10 (best) for all environmental criteria; the different engineering disciplines used ranges e.g. 0-2, 0-5, 1-5, depending on the criterion and the degree of differentiation between the options. For energy consumption the quantitative values were simply converted to a scale of 1 to 10 from worst to best. It should be emphasised that the scores for different criteria are not equivalent and cannot be summed together. The scoring ranges are indicated on the appraisal framework in Table D6.2 of Appendix D in the Environmental Statement.

  It is worth stressing that throughout the complex decision making process, final choices were made by discussion and debate between different disciplines in the team. Consequently distortions related to importance did not occur. Tools were used to help the team sort out their ideas and distil information down into a manageable form to help their discussions, but they were not the principal methods used to make choices.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what volume of leakage is anticipated per year from the new pipe network to be installed as part of the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive’s response is:

  West of Scotland Water would not anticipate any leakage from the new pipe network to be installed as part of the Katrine Water Project.

Water Industry

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring there is of the number of rats in sewers.

Ross Finnie: Monitoring to identify the exact number of rats in sewers is not undertaken by the Scottish Water Authorities. In the event of a reported rodent infestation outbreak a reactive approach is adopted as this ensures that responses are appropriate to local needs and are effective in the protection of public health.

  In spring 2001, the Scottish Executive oversaw the introduction of a voluntary joint agreement between COSLA and the Scottish Water Authorities. This agreement helps to ensure effective collaboration between local authorities and water authorities re. the control of rodents in sewers. This document is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19755).

Water Industry

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes in practice have taken place in dealing with rats in sewers in the last five years.

Ross Finnie: A key change in practices for dealing with rats in sewers has been the voluntary joint agreement between COSLA and the Scottish Water Authorities introduced in spring 2001. This was overseen by the Scottish Executive and it sets out a strategy to ensure closer collaboration between local authorities and water authorities regarding practices for the control of rodents in sewers. This agreement is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19755).

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Postal Service

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliament will continue to use the Royal Mail service following the de-regulation of postal services.

Sir David Steel: The SPCB is currently contracted to Consignia for the provision of a mail management service at the Parliament’s interim accommodation. The contract for this service was competitively tendered and there are no plans to review arrangements with Consignia following the deregulation of postal services.

  We are, however, tendering for the provision of a mail screening and mail management/messenger service for the Parliament’s accommodation at Holyrood.